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Implementation
The workload of the TBI in particular was placed on the agenda in the Korpsmonitor 2010 275 [police forces
monitor]. The TBI expressed its intention to invest (more) in infiltration, undercover purchasing (of
material) and Internet investigations, the labour-intensive means known as BOB. 276 (see §3.4.3). However,
due to the workload, the shortage in capacity and the necessity to perform primary duties such as
international collaborative activities, the TBI hardly ever manages to carry out this intention. 277
Regional police forces
The regional police forces receive cases for investigation from the North and East Netherlands Supraregional
Crime Squad (BR-NON). Regional units also receive cases from community police officers, computer
companies and via their own investigations. 278 In individual cases involving a sexual offence/sexual
abuse, the suspect’s computer is seized and after the data on the computer has been read, it may emerge
that the suspect had (had) child abuse material in his/her possession. This may constitute a reason for
further investigation into potential victims or into the suspect’s possible participation in a network in
which images are exchanged. The seizure of data storage media – if an investigation provides reason to
do so – is, incidentally, not a standard procedure. 279
The 25 regional police forces conduct criminal investigations of child pornography. Practically all police
regions have commercial sex offences divisions, which are concerned with all sexual offences in which
a commercial purpose plays a significant role, such as child pornography, forced prostitution and trafficking
in human beings. Coordinators of child pornography matters have also been appointed in all
regions who maintain contact with TBI and the other regions.
‘Landelijke Proeftuin Zambezi’
The Landelijke Proeftuin aanpak Kinderpornografie [<strong>National</strong> Testbed to Tackle <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Pornography</strong>],
known as the Zambezi project, was set up within the Rotterdam-Rijnmond police force. The team
worked closely with the detective agency Digitale Opsporing and the Public Prosecution Service and
developed new working methods and processes that were made available at a national level. The
parties also investigated the limitations of legal frameworks and the opportunities to begin (new)
forms of collaborative partnerships with companies and institutions. New software was also developed
by the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) in collaboration with the digital working group
within the ‘test bed’, which processes all data seized from suspects (on hard drive, DVD, etc.). 280 The
‘test bed’ must primarily be regarded as a favourable environment that enables the investigation,
prosecution and punishment of mala fide individuals involved in child pornography. 281
275 Programme of Improvements in Tackling <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Pornography</strong>, 2011. The monitor contains data for the
year 2010 and was published in 2011.
276 Special investigative powers.
277 Since summer 2010, this is being given greater priority, but at the expense of reports received by the
organisation. Information supplied in writing by TBI, 5 September 2011.
278 Programme of Improvements in Tackling <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Pornography</strong>, 2011.
279 See Implementation Provisions concerning the detection and prosecution in relation to sexual abuse
(2010A26), Dutch Government Gazette 2010, no. 19123, which provide no instructions in relation to
seizure of data storage media.
280 Programme of Improvements in Tackling <strong>Child</strong> <strong>Pornography</strong>, 2009.
281 WODC, 2010.
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